New Year’s Eve 2012 Celebrations Kick Off

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Fireworks explode over Elizabeth Tower housing the Big Ben clock to celebrate the New Year in London, Jan. 1, 2013.

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People watch fireworks along Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Jan. 1, 2013.

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Costumed musicians march in the New Year Junkanoo Parade in Nassau, Bahamas, Jan. 1, 2013.

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Revellers write the number 2013 with sparklers during the Hogmanay (New Year) street party celebrations in Edinburgh, Scotland Dec. 31, 2012.

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A woman with her daughter walks in a decorated street with lights to celebrate the New Year in Mumbai, India, Jan. 1, 2013.

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Young children with their foreheads pasted with "2013" pose for photos as they wait for the arrival of the new year at Jiujiang Elementary School in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 31, 2012.

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A lightshow illuminates the Summer Palace during a new year count-down event in Beijing, China, Dec. 31, 2013.

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A lightshow illuminates the Summer Palace during a new year during a count-down event in Beijing, China, Dec. 31, 2013.

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A reveller joins festivities at a count-down event for the new year at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China, Dec. 31, 2012.

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White spheres floating in Singapore's bay, each penned by revellers with different wishes for 2013, are illuminated with colourful lights to usher in the new year, Dec. 31, 2012.

WONG MAYE-E / AP

Performers react as fireworks explode over the Singapore financial district to mark the start of the new year, Jan. 1, 2013 in Singapore.

KHIN MAUNG WIN / AP

Burmese punks dance as they hold their home made New Year's Eve cerebration in Yangon, Dec. 31, 2012.

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A Thai woman dances at the New Year's Eve party and countdown in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 31, 2012.

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Balinese dancers perform as they take part in a cultural parade during a New Year's Eve celebration at a main road in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Dec. 31, 2012.

DAMIAN SHAW / EPA

Fireworks light up the new year over Sydney harbour, Australia, Jan. 1, 2013.

Read more: http://world.time.com/2012/12/31/new-years-eve-2012-celebrations-kick-off/#ixzz2Gqth6Bm2